The New York Public Library Needs a Proofreader [UPDATE]

August 19, 2013

The New York Public Library is the second largest library in the United States, and third largest in the world. It possesses over 53 million volumes, sees upward of 15 million visitors a year, and houses a Gutenberg Bible, a book that ushered in the dawn of mass media and widespread literacy. But even titans need spellcheck. A hawkeyed tipster pointed out an unfortunate error in a recent job posting at NYPL for a Creative Services Director: “This experienced marketing leader will direct all advertising, publications and graphics of The New York Pubic Library.” Welcome to every copyeditor’s worst nightmare.

Phone calls to the library about the error have gone unanswered, so as of press time the typo stands.

Update: The NYPL has gotten wise to the typo and corrected it, confirming that it was, of course, an honest mistake.

‘The World Trade Center was conceived by vested interests, promoted by pressure groups, brought into being by a handful of powerful men for reasons of monetary gain or personal pressure, and indirectly subsidized by the taxpayer’